Nottinghamshire sport ambassador will be first for C of E

Sharing faith in the world of sport will be the focus of a pioneering post in Nottinghamshire which the Church of England is recruiting for this month.

The Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham plan to appoint the first Sport Ambassador for the Church of England – a brand new post backed by a special Mission Fund set up by the diocese.

A former chaplain for Manchester City Football Club, the Rt Revd Tony Porter – now the Bishop of Sherwood -  is one of the leaders who initiated the new post. He said: “This appointment is not about sport it’s about the church in 2007 being where people are and being where people are passionate – for too long we’ve been hiding behind church walls. Our diocese is committed to continuing to share the gospel where people are.”

The new post, which has been advertised through the national organisation, ‘Christians in Sport’, is aimed to equip and encourage Christians to use sport as their mission field, working with individuals, groups, churches and clergy and youth workers.

Bishop Tony said: “With the Olympics and the para-Olympics on the horizon, for many sport has become a god, but sport is not a god, it’s a gift from God and as a diocese we want to be thankful for sport, but lead people to the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the champion who will never lose his crown.”

The diocese hopes to recruit and appoint the new ambassador in the next few months, for a five year period.

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